The University of Edinburgh (UoE) and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) are inviting eligible scholarship applications to their 2023/2024 collaborative Wits-Edinburgh Doctoral Programme in Sustainable African Futures (WESAF).
The WESAF doctoral programme aims to provide research training to equip students (primarily academics already holding tenured positions) to complete interdisciplinary doctoral research on areas related to sustainability on the African continent. The blended programme is designed to enable students to complete primarily an online masters followed by a primarily online doctorate. The Masters by Research and PhD programmes will, however, combine in-person elements including sustainability schools (in-person schools focussed on enhancing knowledge in the field of sustainability research) in South Africa and contact sessions in Edinburgh alongside workplace-based internships. Supervision will be jointly delivered online and jointly by academics from both UoE and Wits.
The Doctoral Programme in African Sustainable Futures is an innovative doctoral program that can be taken on a part-time (3 years) or full-time (up to 6 years) basis. It will be delivered primarily online under co-supervision by leaders in their fields at UoE and Wits. Students will meet with their supervisors for an advanced training session in person in Edinburgh in December 2026.
Duration: 3-6 years
Benefits
The 2023/24 Wits-Edinburgh Doctoral Programme in Sustainable African Futures covers:
- Tuition fees
- Participation in two sustainability schools (in person) (one in Edinburgh (2025) and one in Johannesburg (2027)), including visa applications for South Africa entry, vaccinations as required, accommodation and subsistence while in Johannesburg, return flights, and internal travel.
- Research placements of between 1 and 6 months will be arranged for students at some point in the second or third year of the PhD.
- A stipend to cover costs for the placement with an external industry (or appropriate workplace) partner.
Eligibility
To apply for the 2023/24 Wits-Edinburgh Doctoral Programme in Sustainable African Futures, applicants must:
- have completed the MScR in Sustainable African Futures and are eligible to apply for the PhD programme.
- demonstrate a level of English language competency that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.
- must be nationals or permanent residents of an African country
- and generally be a staff member at one of the partner universities, or a candidate being considered for teaching or research staff recruitment by the partner universities.
Application Process
Candidates invited to apply for this program will submit an online application form. In addition to the online application form, applicants must upload the following mandatory documents:
- A time plan that demonstrates that the doctoral thesis dissertation will be completed in good time
- A recommendation letter from the Master’s supervisor at the University of Edinburgh
- A 2-5 page concept paper for the proposed PhD project.
To apply for The 2023/24 Wits-Edinburgh Doctoral Programme in Sustainable African Futures, click here
Deadline: May 15, 2023.
For more information on The 2023/24 Wits-Edinburgh Doctoral Programme in Sustainable African Futures, visit the official site.
